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That awkward moment when you saved the day but doomed the planet.

It all went off without a hitch. Okay, so there were hitches. Lots of hitches. But Jarek got his exosuit back, and Rachel saved her brother. Then that stupid alien egg had to blow up and ruin all of it.

Now Rachel's brother is in a coma, and they have a tight-lipped raknoth telling them some fresh new hell is about to rain down on their heads—one that gives even the raknoth nightmares. And that's when the strange ship shows up.

No one knows where it came from. Only that it seems to be looking for something. And when it turns out that that 'something' might be Rachel and that the ship's mysterious crew are harboring secrets surrounding her mom's disappearance and the raknoth themselves . . . Well, it's safe to say their day's not about to get any less complicated.

And one way or another, there's going to be hell to pay.


HELL TO PAY is the second book in the Harvesters Series, an alien invasion adventure set on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Think HALO meets DRESDEN FILES, with STAR WARS flavored sprinkles. Fans of Michael Anderle, Lindsay Buroker, and Chris Fox will love this series for its "fast-paced adventure," "compelling characters," and "wonderfully wise-cracking dialogue."

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2017

234 people are currently reading
307 people want to read

About the author

Luke R. Mitchell

11 books505 followers
Luke is a storyteller whose dreams include learning the ways of the Force, becoming a sentient robot, and maybe even one day growing up. Also, lots of zombies… Don't ask.

After studying engineering science at Penn State and neuroengineering at Drexel, Luke finally decided to throw in the towel on actually building a working Iron Man suit, opting instead to simply make things up and write them down. Boy, is he having more fun now.

When he's not holed up in his cave trying to string words together, he can often be found powerlifting, video-gaming, reading, and/or drinking the darkest, most roasty beers he can get his mitts on.

You know what? Enough about Luke. He's not that interesting. But if you'd like to say hi to him for whatever reason, he'd probably be glad to hear from you. Contact him at luke@lukermitchell.com (kind of a silly email address, right?) with questions, critiques, or just a friendly hello!

Also, be sure to swing by at lukermitchell.com to sign up for his reading group and receive a free eBook!

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5 stars
161 (38%)
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166 (39%)
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71 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Meenaz Lodhi.
1,021 reviews86 followers
June 28, 2017
A veritable Resistance, new good guys, a turn around with the bad aliens who actually have a sense of humour and sarcasm! Great battle scenes( actually, horrific!), especially the one to one combat was hair raising! Our basic human emotions are described perfectly, the ups and downs, vulnerability, despair, but also hope. The outcome between humans and the aliens seems promising with the immediate future appearance of a more evil enemy. Trepidant story! I hope the the next release is soon!
Profile Image for Heather Hayden.
Author 13 books94 followers
May 17, 2018
Great sequel to Red Gambit! This is another strong story full of plenty of wit, action, and a dash of mystery. Some questions are answered, more are asked, and my favorite characters were put through the wringer.

Like the first book, there is plenty of swearing and innuendo, which doesn't bother me but might concern others.

I'll definitely be picking up book three!
377 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2017
"That awkward moment when you saved the day but doomed the planet.
It all went off without a hitch. Okay, so there were hitches. Lots of hitches. But Jarek got his exosuit back, and Rachel saved her brother. Then that stupid alien egg had to blow up and ruin all of it.

Now Rachel's brother is in a coma, and they have a tight-lipped raknoth telling them some fresh new hell is about to rain down on their heads—one that gives even the raknoth nightmares. And that's when the strange ship shows up.

No one knows where it came from. Only that it seems to be looking for something. And when it turns out that that 'something' might be Rachel and that the ship's mysterious crew are harboring secrets surrounding her mom's disappearance and the raknoth themselves . . . Well, it's safe to say their day's not about to get any less complicated.

And one way or another, there's going to be hell to pay."


This is the second novel (third book, if we include the prequel) of The Harvesters Series.

So, far, I’m enjoying this series a lot. The innocent, idealistic Jarek from the prequel has become a wise cracking, irreverent smart ass. And that’s when he’s behaving himself! And Al, his AI buddy, has also developed a sense of humour, rather more dry than Jarek’s.

Mitchell is very good at snappy dialogue, building tension and turning a phrase. For instance,

“In truth, he couldn’t quite say why he was so set on getting to the bottom of this thing. Self-preservation was one angle, that was true. But there was more to it. The threat of some dreadful impending doom had him captivated, like a horrific slow-motion car crash he just couldn’t look away from. And on top of that, maybe he didn’t want to see the people in this room get hurt.”


You’ve got that wonderfully evocative simile, followed by the totally prosaic final sentence. Lovely.

“Pryce stroked at his chin. “Cryptic with a side of vague, hmm?”
“Least satisfying meal ever,” Jarek said. “Although he did also say we’d all be dead soon.”


There is something that bothers me, though. You've got a pair of healthy young adults who are very attracted to each other. The world may be coming to an end. And they decide to deny themselves. How realistic is that? Soldiers going off to die generally screw around as much as they can, first, don’t they? Also, Rachel is more worried about her adopted brother than the end of the world. Now I get that the first problem seems much more manageable, but she’s furious that a total stranger doesn’t share her priorities:


"“We need to know how to help him,” Rachel added. “It’s important.”
Alton snapped out of his funk. “Important? A single life? If a nest has burst, we’re talking about the annihilation of every sentient being on this planet.”
Rachel had almost been on the verge of feeling like she might have been overreacting to blow Alton through a wall—until he said that."


There’s a lot of plot in this book. Lots and lots of things are happening, characters are being added, and the plot thickens. I’m a little concerned about the upcoming invasion by the unbeatable foe. The humans can’t beat the raknoth, and whatever’s coming is even more powerful. Should be interesting.
3,970 reviews14 followers
June 26, 2017
"We always have a choice, Goldilocks."
Okay, Jarek has his suit back (so can once again carry Big Whacker), and they have captured the Red King raknoth, but Rachel's brother, Michael, is still in a coma after the opening of the egg/nest thingie. And it seems that now they face the even more terrifying prospect of another, greater enemy. One which the raknoth fear (so that can't be good, whatever it is!) Plus the Resistance are in disarray and there's a strange spaceship seen over Philodephia. Who are they? Looks like the battle is hardly started ...

If you have read book one of this hilariously well written, fast action science fiction story, you won't need any review to tell you to get this book, the second in the Harvesters Series. If you haven't discovered it yet, what are you waiting for? Great characters, deliciously funny, brilliantly choreographed fight scenes - and plenty of them - and excitement on every page. New, horrible aliens, some pretty awful humans, too, plus a charismatic hero (even if a reluctant one) with a suit he was willing to die for. Oh, and the heroine is pretty kick ass, too. This could be read as a stand alone, but why deprive yourself of fun? This is a great series. Now just how are the few remaining friends (in the loosest possible sense of the word) going to save the world from the Retribution? Yup, I'm waiting for the impossible in book three..
Profile Image for Anne - Books of My Heart.
3,859 reviews226 followers
June 3, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 


 
The purpose of Thrifty Thursday is to read a book which was free (at some point).
Kindle freebie on April 24, 2018  (currently $4.99 as of writing this post)

Well, my questions about the previous book do come into play in Hell to Pay.  In some ways, it doesn't feel like there is as much action but there is definitely more world building.  Some new characters bring us a lot more information on the events of the Catastrophe, the raknoth, the rakul and the Enochians.  If you read Cursed Blood, you will know some of this information but it turns out most of the current day people don't.

Jarek and Rachel continue to be main characters.  I like them but they seem still seem somewhat immature at times.  They certainly do their best to protect others.  I am glad they are able to trust and support each other as it is a time where trust is in short supply.

Everyone has had to go through a lot of changes and information here.  The book covers a relatively short time, maybe a week or two.  The battles fought, and the discovery of the rakul and Enochian information is overwhelming to them.  I want to read more to learn how they fight and who survives when the rakul arrive.
Profile Image for Mary Lee.
499 reviews10 followers
January 26, 2018
Great but....

This is a great story, but.... it is dragging the Rachel, Jarek story out way too long. Isn't it when facing the end of everything when people tend to pull together and people attracts to each other tend to jump in with both feet before one of them ends up dead? If you really cared about someone and was wildly attracted to them, who would make the decision to keep your distance when faced with dying? No one in their right mind would. Why would you? The excuses make no sense. It's times like this that people tend to grab onto any happiness they can find. Tell the people they love how they feel. Not pull away and go it alone. That makes no sense and goes completely against human nature. One of the reasons I love dystopian stories is because of how adversity of the worst kind tends to pull people together into stronger versions of themselves. Relationships are strong get for the adversity. It separates the chaff from the wheat. You see either the good or the bad come out.
Profile Image for Dennis Crotts.
351 reviews43 followers
September 27, 2019
Story built in another story with many more

Like I said this book had many different storylines but they all weaved together to tell a story of love, hatred, fear, hope and a gloomy day but maybe a brighter tomorrow.
The main story was trying to defeat an enemy known as the Overload who ruled with hatred and fear and if you can kill the Overload then maybe there might be some peace and the ability to work together to defeat an even greater threat to the planet, the humans and the aliens who now rule the planet but the main issue can they come together to learn from each other and then stand together as a fighting force.
But on the other side you see a break in one shell to possible romance and possible love can they overcome their attitudes toward each other and come off their horses and learn to trust each other.
485 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2018
Another wild ride. It can be hard to take in that this book, along with the previous one took place over about 3 days. There was certainly weeks worth of action. Even so, the story is not just action, but interactions and working through some tough questions.

The threats and troubles confronting our heroes is continuing to grow and we have not yet gotten to the real scary bad guys yet. The book make it pretty clear, were just in the warm up phase.

I am enjoying the interaction between the characters and the growing relationship between Jarek and Rachel is well done with their reasons for not giving it to their obvious attraction being more than just stubbornness or one or both being oblivious.
Profile Image for Darlene.
502 reviews26 followers
July 25, 2017
Hell to Pay

Jarek finds himself in some impossible situations, in this installment, but with a little help from his friends he manages to come through it. Those friends come from a totally surprising source. He has found a temporary "home" with the resistance and now needs to do the impossible and unite humans and raknoth. Lots of action in this book. Lots of unrequited love between Jarek and Rachel. When will these two get together?! I guess it might be too much to ask with the Rakul coming to destroy everyone on the planet. So, I will anxiously await the next book with bated breath.
Profile Image for Shannon.
718 reviews3 followers
April 26, 2018
I enjoy Jarek Slater... he is a wise-cracking smart a$$, but at times he is quite deep and philosophical. Rachel is hard to figure ... and her reasons for not wanting to start something with Jarek are weak. Both are feeling something and with the end of the world coming they should just accepts it and enjoy it while it lasts.


This book started right where #1 ended and covers just a few days / a week's worth of action. New characters are introduced, alliances are made and broken, and doom is coming. It's a fun book to read on a rainy day, or just easy enough to pick up when need a fun distraction.
36 reviews1 follower
June 29, 2018
Another entry in the Harvester series that is enjoyable, entertaining, and is full of well-defined and likable characters. The battle scenes are action packed and riveting. And Jarek, the hero, is a wise ass man child, with a snarky comment for virtually any situation and a badass high tech suit to protect him in the most brutal fights. There's even a budding romance between Jarek and Rachel, a woman with mental abilities that just might save the day. And there are the raknoth, who are joining the Resistance to fight a more powerful enemy.

It's fun and compelling. What more could you ask for?
Profile Image for Susan.
1,455 reviews
July 24, 2017
4 stars. Hell to Pay is the second book in The Harvesters series. You can read this as a standalone but I don't recommend that. This book starts off where Red Gambit ended and the ending leaves the storyline open for future books that might be written. There is violence.

The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat all of that info here. This is a futuristic thriller that has a very different take on vampires and alien life. As usual, everything and everyone is not as it seems. I look forward to reading the next book to find out what happens.
Profile Image for Melissa Dinwiddie.
268 reviews14 followers
November 15, 2017
A Rollicking Ride!

If you like kickass heroines, and wisecracking heroes, sci-fi a la Star Wars with a touch of fantastical, you may be utterly booknapped by this series! I sure am. The characters are rich, the dialogue snappy, the writing well paced.

My only complaint is the cliffhanger endings, but since the books are part of Kindle Unlimited, it hasn’t cramped my style; I just download the next book and keep right on going.

Excellent stuff! Consider me a new fan—sign me up for anything this author writes!
509 reviews1 follower
May 12, 2018
Not what I expected.

My rating is 3.5. I’m disappointed in the direction. There was so much excitement in book one. With the sporadic action and Jared and Rachel constantly in their heads, I lost interest in the story. I found myself rushing to the conclusion. The battles were so chaotic. Made it difficult to focus. I hope Reaping Day is much better. I really loved book one and wanted that euphoria to continue through the series. Hope the next book is better.
Profile Image for PJ Lea.
1,064 reviews
October 4, 2017
Hell is coming.

I like the use of vampires, aliens, tech and magic. The protagonists ability to combine their strengths to fight their enemies makes for impressive battles. The use of humour and snark in the dialogue lifts the story and makes the characters feel more real.
Really good.
Profile Image for Scott.
1,485 reviews12 followers
April 22, 2020
Good step up

Jarek and Rachel have a hell of a job as with the Rakul on the way the mighty warrior and Archanist look to be the only hope giving plenty of bonding and action along the way.
Well written and a bit easier as this is book 2 so a step up from book 1 which i fealt needed a little more clarity to some pieces
Profile Image for Leslie.
2,113 reviews25 followers
October 6, 2021
Pretty expected middle book in the trilogy. They fight a few pretty hard battles, only to realize that the true war hasn’t even begun. I did appreciate the relationship development… but humans from a different planet is just to easy a plot device… there’s no effort on the main characters parts to create their own alliances.
Profile Image for Alan Bruce.
7 reviews
June 24, 2017
i'd give it 10 stars if i could since i read red gambit and hell to pay in under 48 hours.i'm not going to give any plots away only its a thrill ride from begininng to end and i for one can't wait for the next in the series.(hopefully another advance copy mr mitchell).
10 reviews
June 26, 2017
Received this book as an ARC. Found this book to be just as good as the first book. I remember thinking at one point during the novel that I really wanted to experience the world Luke R. Mitchell created in the form of a game. More books, please.
Profile Image for Donna Sperry.
5 reviews
July 20, 2017
Hell to Pay

I loved this book. Jarek and his wisecracking ways are endearing. Rachel is perfect for him. But this is not a romance but any means! I would definitely recommend this book.
Profile Image for Shannon.
386 reviews15 followers
August 7, 2017
Hot Damn!

This series just keeps getting better! Jarek is a hell of a main character! Rachel is right there with him in the thick of this story. This is the first space story I have read and I am loving it!
84 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2017
I'm hooked on the series

Hell to Pay was a great flow up in the series. The characters were fleshed out and really are gelling.

If you enjoyed the first one, I would highly recommend continuing the series with book two.
Profile Image for John.
405 reviews19 followers
August 12, 2019
I called the previous book "beautifully ridiculous", and I stand by that. This book pretty much takes the "ours goes to eleven" over-the-top vibe of that book, and decides to go even eleven-er with it. Good times.
Profile Image for Spring.
90 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2020
I enjoy this series so much. The way I’ve described it is Deadpool, if he existed in a post apocalyptic world with space vampires. It’s fun, fast paced and I’m genuinely sad when the book ends. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Profile Image for Sandy Schmidt.
1,419 reviews11 followers
July 31, 2024
Part II is more exciting than the first as we find that the terrifying aliens are afraid of other more terrifying aliens. And that the shapeshifting kind have been living among us. Among all the fighting and fear, are Jarek and Rachel getting closer?
76 reviews
November 6, 2025
I listened to the audio version of the book. It was well read and the story was enjoyable. Some of the actions felt a bit off and language is very American, which is why it lost a star. Funny at times, with good banter. A good second book in the series.
Profile Image for Betty Z.
126 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2017
Great writing

Can't wait for book 3. Went through 1 & 2 back to back. Hate having to wait, but think it will be worth it.
407 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2018
pretty gosh darn good. had to stay up to finish it. surprised by the turns it's taken. time.for book 3.
Profile Image for Aviar Savijon.
1,220 reviews20 followers
April 23, 2018
Hell To Pay

Another stunning tale with plenty of action and adventure. Written masterfully by Like R. Mitchell a brilliant writer in his own right. I Loved It!!
224 reviews2 followers
January 12, 2020
The title describes it perfectly.
Make sure you're comfortable
because you're going to be
involved right through to the
end.
Enjoy !!

Phyllis S.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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